Obesity is potentially associated with a novel mitochondrial tRNAGly 10029A>G mutation in a Chinese family

Abstract Background Obesity is one of the most prominent public health challenges globally. Mutations in mitochondrial genes can similarly lead to the onset of childhood obesity remains unclear. Methods we conducted a clinical, genetic, and molecular profiling of a Han Chinese family with evident of matrilineally-inherited obesity. Obesity was evident in 2/6 matrilineal relatives in a single generation of this family (of 3 available generations). When the mitochondrial DNA of these individuals was sequences and a pedigree analysis was performed. Results We were able to identify a novel homoplasmic mutation of the mitochondrial tRNAGly gene (10029A>G) in these individuals. This mutation was linked to destabilization of a conserved base pair in the anticodon of this tRNA. This position (position 43) is known to be important for mediating effective codon recognition and tRNA stability. Consistent with the importance of this conserved site, we found that the predicted structure of a tRNAGly structure bearing a 10029A>G mutation was markedly altered in a molecular dynamics simulation relative to the wild-type isoform. All other mutations identified in the mtDNA of this individual were known variants associated with Asian haplogroup D4. Conclusion Our report provides novel evidence of a link between a tRNA mutation and an elevated risk of maternally-transmissible obesity risk, offering potentially novel insights into the underlying nature of obesity.